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Human Resources Management in Canada, 13ce
Chapter 6: Recruitment
Chapter 6 Recruitment
5) Identifying job requirements and if they should be filled internally or externally is most
closely associated with which of the following?
A) A human resources requisition form
B) HR planning
C) Determining the job requirements
D) Building a pool of candidates
E) Choosing the appropriate recruitment method(s)
Answer: B
Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Ref: 132
Topic: The Recruitment Process
Skill: Recall
6) Job openings are identified through two main sources. One is through HR planning. What is
the other source?
A) Choosing the appropriate recruitment source(s) and method(s)
B) Human resources planning
C) Determining the job requirements
D) Building a pool of candidates
E) Manager request
Answer: E
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 132
Topic: The Recruitment Process
Skill: Recall
8) Constraints affecting the recruitment process arise from which of the following?
A) Inducements offered by competitors
B) Emerging labour shortages
C) Employment equity plans
D) Organizational and compensation policies
E) The skill level of the HR recruiter
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Ref: 132-133
Topic: The Recruitment Process
Skill: Recall
9) A logistics consulting company operating across Canada has had to launch an initiative to
recruit engineers from abroad. Which constraints on the recruitment process most likely led to
this?
A) Employment equity plans
B) Compensation policies
C) Labour shortage
D) Employment status policies
E) Inducements offered by competitors
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 133
Topic: The Recruitment Process
Skill: Applied
10) Which of the following arises as a constraint in the recruitment process since it influences the
attractiveness of a job to potential applicants?
A) Employment status policies
B) Promote-from-within policies
C) Human resources plans
D) Recruitment budgets
E) Compensation policies
Answer: E
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 133
Topic: The Recruitment Process
Skill: Recall
12) Which of the following provides an efficient means of collecting verifiable historical data
from candidates in a standardized format?
A) Having candidates complete a personality test with their job application
B) Testing candidates online in the field of the job opening
C) Hosting phone interviews before meeting candidates in person
D) An online applicant tracking system that codes and logs data
E) Matching notes taken in an interview with a candidate's application form
Answer: D
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 133
Topic: Developing and Using Application Forms
Skill: Applied
14) Daniel completed an application form that did not request information about his age, gender,
or race but focused on his background, experiences, and preferences such as willingness to
travel. What type of application form did Daniel complete?
A) Biographical information blank
B) Historical career record
C) Experience and skills timeline
D) Work / life balance evaluation
E) Personality test
Answer: A
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 134
Topic: Developing and Using Application Forms
Skill: Applied
15) What method would a company likely use to inform current employees about job
opportunities?
A) Preparing a job description
B) Job posting
C) Placing a classified advertisement in the newspaper
D) Radio advertising
E) Preparing a job specification
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 135
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Within the Organization
Skill: Recall
16) How are skills inventories used with respect to job postings?
A) Eliminate the need for job postings
B) Job postings are used to collect skills inventories
C) Skills inventories are used to create job postings
D) Applicants must create a skills inventory before applying to a job posting
E) Often used as a supplement to job postings
Answer: E
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 135
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Within the Organization
Skill: Recall
18) An HR manager must hire an engineer for a specialized position in the quality control group
of a large airlines manufacturer. Which of the following would be most helpful as a supplement
to an internal job posting to ensure that the right person was hired?
A) A replacement chart
B) A biodata form
C) An online application form
D) A succession plan
E) A skills inventory
Answer: E
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 135
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Within the Organization
Skill: Applied
19) What often results when recruiting from outside the organization?
A) Cost savings due to less extensive training
B) The generation of a homogeneous pool of applicants
C) Problems in meeting employment equity goals
D) Rivalry and competition among employees
E) Higher costs due to disgruntled employees that leave the organization
Answer: A
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 136
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Applied
20) Which of the following do companies normally rely on when hiring externally for an
executive-level position?
A) Online recruitment
B) Professional search firms
C) Employee referrals
D) Employment agencies
E) Newspaper ads
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 136
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
24) What information will a yield pyramid provide during the recruitment process?
A) The projected turnover rate given the number of applicants responding to a job opening
B) Number of applicants that must be attracted to hire the required number of new employees
C) Amount of lead time needed to hire the required number of new employees
D) Number of applicants rejected at each stage of the selecting process
E) Number of applicants that lack the educational requirements at each stage of the hiring
process
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 136
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Applied
26) Why are internet job boards highly popular among job seekers?
A) The types of job postings available
B) The features of the job boards
C) The technological requirements of the internet
D) The number of job postings available on one site
E) The ability to scan through postings by level of pay offered
Answer: D
Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Ref: 143
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
28) What are employers now using with the overabundance of applicants now found on most
online job boards?
A) Traditional in person job applications
B) Government sponsored recruitment sites only
C) Their own corporate websites to recruit
D) Application service providers
E) Print advertising for job postings
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 143
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
31) Best practices for company's that want to use their corporate website to attract job applicants
should do which of the following?
A) Embellish business prospects.
B) Use an ASP.
C) Use print job ads along with positions posted on the website.
D) Make salary information public.
E) Have a prominent link from the homepage to the career page.
Answer: E
Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Ref: 143
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
32) To properly construct a print ad for recruitment, there should be four points addressed.
Which of the following is one of these points?
A) Create desire for the job.
B) Name who to call.
C) Appear in the classified ads.
D) Tell people where to apply.
E) Include the pay scale for the job.
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Ref: 138
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
35) You are a recruiter at a telecommunication company. In recruiting for the position of
business division sales manager, which of the following would be the advantage of the employee
referral method?
A) It attracts candidates already familiar with the organization.
B) It represents a low recruiting cost.
C) It would assist in managing diversity in the firm.
D) It usually leads to higher quality candidates.
E) It generally attracts a greater pool of applicants than other methods.
Answer: B
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 138
Topic: Identifies the Potential Sources of Internal and External Qualified Candidates
Skill: Applied
36) Perhaps the biggest drawback associated with employee referrals is the
A) potential for systemic discrimination.
B) dissatisfaction of employees whose referral is not hired.
C) unrealistic expectations newly-hired employees have about the firm.
D) potential for nepotism.
E) costs involved in providing cash awards.
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Ref: 138
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Applied
39) As the HR manager for a company you are hiring for a position that requires some formal
training, but little work experience. Which of the following recruitment methods is likely to be
most effective in generating a pool of qualified candidates at low cost?
A) Employment agencies
B) Newspaper advertisements
C) Human resource centres
D) Professional journal advertisements
E) Educational institutions
Answer: E
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 139
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Applied
41) Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) primarily helps which of the
following?
A) Skilled tradespersons
B) People with supervisory skills
C) Non-union employees looking for a change in work
D) Unemployed individuals
E) People with a post secondary education
Answer: D
Diff: 1 Type: MC Page Ref: 144
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
42) Who do firms use to seek out middle- to senior-level professional and managerial
employees?
A) A talent scout
B) An employment agency
C) A professional or trade association
D) A professional agency
E) An executive search firm
Answer: E
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 144
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
43) You are a recruiter with a software development firm and are seeking to fill positions
requiring specific computer programming knowledge and work experience. Which of the
following recruitment sources or methods would be particularly useful to you?
A) Educational institutions
B) A labour organization
C) Professional and trade associations
D) Write-ins
E) Newspaper advertising
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 141
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Applied
45) When do organizations use open houses and job fairs to recruit candidates?
A) When the organization is a government agency
B) To increase the multicultural diversity of the organization
C) When there are many jobs for candidates
D) When the organization is new start up in need of employees
E) When the organization also wants to promote its products
Answer: C
Diff: 2 Type: MC Page Ref: 141
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
49) Which of the following is true about recruiting members from Generation Y?
A) They value job security and independence.
B) They value work-life balance and independence.
C) They value job security and diversity.
D) They value creativity and social responsibility.
E) They value creativity and work-life balance.
Answer: B
Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Ref: 147
Topic: Recruiting a More Diverse Workforce
Skill: Recall
50) An HR manager is redesigning some positions to provide more flexible work arrangements
and eliminate reliance on dexterity and physical strength. What type of worker does the HR
manager likely have in mind for these positions?
A) Gen X workers
B) Gen Y workers
C) New immigrants workers
D) Office workers
E) Older workers
Answer: E
Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Ref: 147
Topic: Recruiting a More Diverse Workforce
Skill: Recall
51) Jared has a hearing and speech disability. Which portal would be best suited for Jared to use
to find a job?
A) WORKink.
B) SCWIST.
C) ACSESS.
D) CPC.
E) HRSDC.
Answer: A
Diff: 3 Type: MC Page Ref: 148
Topic: Recruiting a More Diverse Workforce
Skill: Recall
52) Recent research has found a strong correlation between successful recruiting and shareholder
value.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 131
Topic: The Strategic Importance of Recruitment
Skill: Recall
53) Recruitment is the process of searching out and hiring qualified job applicants, which begins
with the identification of current employers wanting a job change.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 132
Topic: The Strategic Importance of Recruitment
Skill: Recall
55) One advantage of employee referrals is that, because there are no advertising fees involved,
paying referral rewards represents a low recruiting cost.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 138
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Applied
56) A disadvantage of using social networking sites as a recruitment method is the cost involved.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 144
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Applied
57) A risk of using social networking sites as a recruitment method is that disgruntled former
employees or customers may post negative comments on the site.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 144
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
58) Recruits can be hired through union hiring halls, particularly in construction. The roster of
members only works for one organization at a time.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 141
Topic: Recruitment Avenues: Recruiting From Outside the Organization
Skill: Recall
59) Trends of particular significance today include a decrease in the availability of younger
workers.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1 Type: TF Page Ref: 147
Topic: Recruiting a More Diverse Workforce
Skill: Recall
60) Most of the recruitment methods outlined in the text can be used to attract designated group
members even if the employer's commitment to equality and diversity is unclear.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 147
Topic: Recruiting a More Diverse Workforce
Skill: Recall
61) For most employers, completion of an application form is the last step in the recruitment
process.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 131
Topic: The Strategic Importance of Recruitment
Skill: Recall
62) A detailed application form that requests biographical data found to be predictive of success
on the job is known as a weighted application blank.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2 Type: TF Page Ref: 148
Topic: The Strategic Importance of Recruitment
Skill: Recall
63) Describe what "employer branding" is with respect to the recruitment process and identify
and describe the three steps involved in employer branding.
Answer: Employer branding is the image or impression of an organization as an employer based
on the benefits of being employed by the organization. The three steps are 1) define the target
audience and what they want from an employer; 2) develop the employee value proposition (why
the organization is desirable to work for); and 3) communicate the brand by incorporating the
value proposition into all recruitment efforts. Three points for each step and one point for the
description of employer branding.
Diff: 1 Type: ES Page Ref: 131-132
Topic: The Strategic Importance of Recruitment
Skill: Recall
64) Identify and describe the four main steps in the recruitment process.
Answer:
1. Job openings are identified through HR planning or manager request
2. The job requirements are determined
3. Appropriate recruiting sources and methods are chosen
4. A pool of qualified candidates is generated.
2.5 points for correctly identifying and describing each step.
Diff: 1 Type: ES Page Ref: 132
Topic: The Recruitment Process
Skill: Recall
Language: English
Credits: Al Haines
AN EVERY-DAY STORY
BY
NEW YORK
THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO.
46 EAST FOURTEENTH STREET (UNION SQUARE)
COPYRIGHT, 1890,
BY T. Y. CROWELL & Co.
TO
E. E. J.,
THE ORIGINAL OF MY ROB,
IN MEMORY OF MANY PLEASANT HOURS WE HAVE
SPENT TOGETHER,
THIS LITTLE STORY IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED.
PREFACE.
Every New England town can show a Teddy, a Phil, and a Fred, more or
less thinly disguised, while Rob and Fuzz, without any disguise at all, are
even now important members of one small community.
With this warning as to the commonplace nature of our boys and of their
doings, and this slight explanation of its cause, the writer steps aside, and
leaves the Half Dozen Boys to tell their own story.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
"'That among all the changes and chances of this mortal life,' intoned
the musical voice of the rector, "'they may ever be defended by Thy most
gracious and ready help, through Jesus Christ our Lord.'"
There was a moment of perfect quiet, as all bowed in silent prayer, and
then the organist softly began to play the first lines of Barnby's All Saints'
Hymn, "For all the Saints," and the boys rose for their recessional. Their
bright, happy faces smiled down for a moment on the waiting congregation,
and then their voices rose in the inspiring old hymn.
As the white-robed figures came down the steps from the pretty
chancel, singing,—
more than one person in the congregation was touched by the solemn
prayer, almost thoughtlessly offered. The eyes of one of their hearers grew
misty as she watched the boyish faces, and tried to fancy the battles in store
for the young soldiers.
As the leaders passed her, they gave her a bright smile of recognition,
while high and clear rang their voices,—
And the line went on out into the choir room, from which came the final
Amen.
The people moved down the aisle, laughing and chatting, but the young
woman of whom we spoke stood a moment, waiting until she was joined by
one of the choir leaders, a bright-faced lad of thirteen. He came up to her,
holding, for convenience, his hat in his teeth, while he pulled on his
overcoat. His cheeks were flushed and his dark eyes shone with the
excitement of the music, but his face was unusually sober.
"Well, Rob?"
"What is it, my dear? I hope all is going well with him. But wait a
moment; I must speak to Mrs. Read. Then I'll come and hear all about it."
Rob fidgeted about the door of the cosy little church until his cousin
joined him. To go home from evening service without her, would have been
to deprive Rob of one of his weekly pleasures. Cousin Bess was his
confidante, adviser, and oracle; and to-night, seeing the boy was really
anxious to talk with her, she hurried her interview with the garrulous mother
of eleven children, and, leaving half told the tale of Tommy's mumps and
Sallie's teeth, she turned to the door, and, with Rob at her side, stepped out
into the cold November starlight. The boy shivered a little.
"Cold, Rob? You'd better turn up your collar, after being in the warm
church, and in your heavy robes, too."
"It's Fred. He's come home from Boston, and he's lots worse. The doctor
says he can't ever see again as long as he lives." And Rob tried to swallow a
great lump in his throat, as he told of his friend's trouble.
"Why, Rob, what do you mean? When did he come home? Who told
you?"
"Phil told me just now. He came home late last night, and Phil met his
father to-day. The trouble's all gone into his opposite nerve, Phil said, and
they say he'll be blind forever. Isn't it awful, cousin Bess?"
"Indeed it is, my boy," said Bess, too much shocked by Rob's tidings
even to smile over his "opposite nerve." "But I don't see what this can have
to do with his eyes. I do hope there is some mistake."
"I'm afraid there isn't," said Rob, shaking his head doubtfully. "You see,
Phil saw Mr. Allen just this noon."
"I know; but his eyes have never troubled him, have they?"
"Not much. A year ago, I guess 'twas, he stayed out of school about a
week, 'cause it hurt him to read. But perhaps it isn't so bad as they think."
"Poor Fred!" said Bess, drawing her little cousin closer to her side, as
she thought of the suffering of this other boy. "If this is true, he has a sad,
sad life before him. You boys, Rob, must do all you can to help him, when
he gets strong enough to see you again. You can do so much for him if you
only try. I know my boy will, won't he?"
"In ever so many little ways. Go to see him, read to him, talk to him,
only not about things he can't do; get him to go out with you,—anything to
keep him from feeling he is left out in the cold, and you boys get on just as
well without him."
"I was thinking to-night, as you came out singing it, that I wondered
what fighting you boys would have to do. Fred has come to his, but the
'victor's crown of gold' will be very hard for him to win, I am afraid."
"Rob, my boy, suppose all at once you had to just drop right out of all
your boy fun and games, couldn't read or study, or even go to walk alone;
do you think it would be real easy to always be bright and cheerful, never
complain or be cross? It is just by bearing this trouble like a man and a hero
that the 'victor's crown' will come to Fred. It will not be a very happy life to
live. But we will hope Phil made some mistake. Almost anything would be
better than for him to be blind all his life; and I can't see what should bring
it on. Did Phil say how he is now?"
"Mr. Allen said he was better, and asked Phil to go to see him before
long."
"I hope he will, and you too, Rob," said Bess, and then added, "How
well the music went to-night," hoping to turn her cousin's thoughts into a
more cheerful line. But it was of no use.
"Fred was just coming into the choir when he was taken ill. The boys all
wanted him, for he has a first-rate voice; but I suppose he can't now. We'd
been planning for his coming as soon as he got well, and he's only a little
shorter than I, so he'd have sat next either Phil or me."
"I didn't know he sang," answered Bess. "But here we are at home.
Won't you come in, Rob?"
"No, I must go home and go right to bed. I was out late last night, you
know. Good-night." And the boy turned to go on as Bess called after him,—
"Sweet dreams to you, my boy! And come up to-morrow after school. I
shall go down to see Fred in the afternoon, and I can tell you more about
him then."
She went into the house, stopping a moment in the hall to take off her
hat and fur-trimmed coat, and then, pushing aside the portière, she entered
the bright, pretty room, where her mother sat reading. The light from the
fire, blazing on the andirons, flickered over the walls, showing a few fine
pictures, some dainty bits of bric-à-brac, and, scattered around and among
all, many books. But the prettiest thing in the room was the white-haired
woman who sat by the table in a low chair. Her gentle expression and the
loving, kindly look in her eyes plainly spoke the word mother; and a real
mother she was, not only to her own flock, now all married and gone except
this one daughter, but as well to all the young men and maidens, boys and
girls, that ever came into her way. Years of delicate health had kept her
much at home, but her parlor was the favorite resort of love-lorn maidens,
ambitious youths, and small urchins whose broken kite-tails needed prompt
attention. Not one of them left her without feeling better for her loving
words of advice or consolation; her ears were always open, and to each she
could and did give the one thing most needed.
Bess pushed a low stool to her side, and sat down on it, with her arm in
her mother's lap.
"Did you have a pleasant service?" asked the older lady, laying down
her book, and giving her daughter's hair a caressing pat.
"Very. Mr. Washburn did so well to-night, better than usual, and the
music was"—
What it was, Mrs. Carter was never destined to know, for at the sound of
her daughter's voice, there was a sudden uprising in the willow basket by
the fire, and out jumped a small gray dog, who stretched himself for a
moment, and then darted straight at his mistress, and climbed into her lap
with sundry growls and yelps of pleasure, wagging, not his tail only, but his
whole body, clear to his curly head. Standing up in her lap, he struck out
with his forepaws, with an utter disregard for her comfort, and only intent
on giving her a cordial welcome. Bess bore it meekly for a time, but a
vigorous scratch on her cheek was too much for even her patience, and she
pushed the dog gently down with a "That will do, Fuzz"; so he trotted away,
and began to search diligently in all the corners of the room.
"Did Rob come up with you, as usual?" asked Mrs. Carter, when quiet
was once more restored.
"Oh, yes; I can always depend on him. What a dear boy he is! Oh, Fuzz!
have you found your ball?"
For Fuzz had returned on the scene, and brought with him the object of
his search, a small, soft ball that he could easily hold in his mouth, or, when
he preferred, carry it hooked on one of his teeth and hanging out at the side
of his mouth. Now, rolling it up towards Bess, but just out of her reach, he
ran back a few steps, flattened himself on the carpet, wagged his morsel of
a tail convulsively, and rolled his eyes, first at the ball then at Bess. But
Bess was in no mood to play, however much Fuzz might desire it. She was
just beginning to tell her mother about Fred, when the dog, seeing that the
suggestive wag of his tail had no influence, uttered a loud, sharp bark.
"No, no, Fuzz!" said Bess, frowning on the excited little creature. "I'm
too tired, and I don't feel like playing."
But Fuzz was deaf to her remonstrances, and again gave vent to his
feelings in the same bark, but this time, to add to his powers of persuasion,
he sat up on his haunches, dropping his little forepaws in a supplicating
fashion, while the stumpy tail still wagged furiously. It was not to be
withstood. As usually happened in that house, Fuzz conquered; and Bess
rose, took the ball, and threw it into the darkest corner, hoping to gain a
moment's rest while the dog hunted up his treasure. Fuzz scrambled after it,
his sharp little claws catching in the carpet as he ran, and in another
moment he had deposited it at the feet of Bess, and run back as before.
Experience had taught his mistress that when Fuzz wished to play, she must
obey his will, and keep him running after the ball until, tired out, he should
be ready to go back to his cushioned basket.
In the intervals of her attentions to Fuzz, she told her mother Rob's
account of Fred, and then went on to speak of the people she had seen, of
the sermon, and of other bits of news likely to interest her home-abiding
mother. A few moments' rest from Fuzz were succeeded by howls from the
next room, at first low and mournful, but as these proved unavailing they
gradually turned into the same deafening barks that had before carried his
point.
Rising, she went to the next room, where, in front of a tall bookcase, lay
Fuzz, pawing wildly at the narrow crack that separated it from the floor, in
the hope of rolling out his cherished ball. For the twentieth time that day
Bess resigned herself to the inevitable, and, kneeling down on the floor,
with difficulty she reached under the bookcase, grasped the ball with the
tips of her fingers and drew it out, while Fuzz, utterly regardless of her
nerves and her Sunday gown, capered back and forth over her, barking
madly all the time.
Fuzz was the ruling member of the Carter family. Two years before,
Bess, scorning Dominie Sampson, the family collie, had been anxious to
own a toy terrier, and her indulgent father had for months been watching for
an opportunity to gratify his daughter's wish, when one day he came
triumphantly home, and from his pocket produced a tiny, squirming ball of
wool. The ball, on being set down on the floor, disclosed four wee paws, a
dot of a tail, two huge ears, a short black nose, and an overwhelming
tendency to tumble over on it.
For a long time the mother and daughter sat in the fitful light, talking of
different matters, until Bess once more spoke of Fred.
"Doesn't it seem hard and cruel, mother, to just shut out that active boy
from everything he most enjoys? I can't see any cause for it at all; and yet
there can be no mistake."
"Poor little boy!" said Mrs. Carter, gently pushing her daughter's hair
back from her face. "He has a hard life before him, and no one to help him
bear it, though he will have everything that money can give. His father and
mother are not the ones to teach him how much that is good he still has left;
and he looks to me like a boy that will take this very hard."
"I should probably have been the worst possible mother for most of
them," replied Mrs. Carter, with a smile. "But when shall you go to see how
Fred is? I think you almost ought to go soon, for the boy is so fond of you."
"I told Rob I should go to-morrow; and oh, how I dread it! I don't know
at all how I shall find him: whether he is over his old trouble, or whether he
can see now. I suppose I ought to go, though. Poor Rob was quite upset by
the news."
"Rob promised to go when he might. I think it took all his heroism, for
he is so afraid of Mrs. Allen. Why, now I think of it, she was at church this
morning, for I remember noticing her new bonnet. How strange for her to
leave Fred his first day at home!"
"I fancy that is her way of doing," said Mrs. Carter as she rose from her
chair. "Well, I think I shall say good-night to you, my daughter."
A few moments later Bess followed her up the stairs, singing softly as
she went,—
FRED.
A cold, dreary November rain was driving against the windows, and the
heavy, dull drops chased one another down the glass. Within the room all
was bright and warm, with a cheerful fire in the grate. The double parlors
were richly and tastefully furnished, yet they were far from attractive, for
their very elegance made more noticeable their lack of homelike cosiness.
No pets were ever allowed to invade their sanctity, no work-basket of
mending ever encumbered one of their tables. The very books and papers
were always carefully returned to their accustomed places, though they
were to be taken up again ten minutes later. The glowing coals shone on
only one object in any way suggestive that the room was ever entered
except to sweep and dust it.
In the back parlor a low, broad sofa was drawn up before the fire, and
on it lay a boy of twelve, so quiet that one coming suddenly into the room
might have fancied him sleeping. But with a sudden weary sigh he turned
his head on the pillow, and pulled the gay afghan more closely around his
shoulders, dropping, as he did so, two or three chocolate creams left from
some previous feast.
"Oh, dear!" he said, half aloud, half to himself, "mother'll scold if those
get smashed on the carpet." And, slowly getting down on the floor, he felt
carefully about, evidently trying to find the missing candy, which lay,
plainly visible, near the fender. At last his hand touched it, and, putting it on
a table that stood close to the sofa, loaded with fruit, flowers, and candy, he
impatiently threw himself down and covered himself again.
He was a handsome boy, with his light brown hair, swarthy skin, and
great, dreamy, brown eyes; but his dark skin had no flush of health, and the
beautiful eyes had a vacant, blank look, while the boy face wore a fretful,
discontented expression, rarely seen in one so young. This was Fred Allen,
who, ten months before, had been a leading spirit among the lads of his age.
Bright, frank, and full of fun, though rather quick-tempered and imperious,
his friends had bowed before him, both for his skill in all the field games so
dear to boyish hearts, and for the ease with which he kept at the head of his
classes in school. Equally devoted to his baseball bat and his books, petted
by his teacher, and adored by his boy friends, Fred was in a fair way to
become spoiled and headstrong. Just at this time a prize was offered to his
class for the best set of examinations, and Fred worked early and late over
his lessons, that the prize might be his. It was a proud and happy moment
for him when, after the teacher had announced that the prize was awarded
to Frederic Hunter Allen, for general excellence in his studies, a boy voice
called out: "Three cheers for Fred Allen," and the cheers were given with a
will.
But the boy had overstudied, and within a week or two signs of intense
nervousness showed themselves, and soon settled into a severe case of
chorea, or, as the cook called it, "Saint Vitus's twitches." For three months
the boy was very ill, seeing no one but his parents and Bess Carter, who
spent two or three afternoons of each week with him. Then his mother
declared that her own nerves were getting so unstrung, and Fred was not
gaining any, why not have him go to Boston to a specialist?
So a private car was ordered, and the boy was taken to Boston, where he
was left in charge of a noted doctor and a professional nurse of undeniable
reputation and heart of iron, who presided over her patients with a clock in
one hand and a thermometer in the other, with no allowance made for
personal variations.
His mother, in the mean time, was free to recuperate her nervous system
by a round of calls, shopping, teas, and theatre-going, to which the illness of
her only son had been a serious hinderance. People talked a little, as well
they might, but Mrs. Allen spoke so regretfully of her own poor health, and
wiped her eyes so daintily when any one asked for Fred, that it was the
general opinion that she was more to be pitied than her little son.
As the months passed, and the boy did not return, inquiries for him grew
fewer, and to these few Mrs. Allen responded with indifference. Mr. Allen
went occasionally to see his son, but he was a cold, proud man, whose chief
ambition was that Fred should make a fine appearance in society, as a
worthy heir to the fortune that he would one day leave him.
But the reports of the specialist were not encouraging. The chorea was a
little better, but something seemed wrong about the boy's sight. A well-
known oculist was called, and he ordered word at once sent to Mr. Allen
that the trouble had all centred in the optic nerve, which was rapidly being
destroyed, and that his only son must be blind forever, with no hope of any
cure.
It was a terrible blow to the father, whose hopes and plans for the future
were all destroyed. His feeling for his son had been pride, rather than love,
and this pride was sorely wounded. A sudden press of business had kept
him for some days from going to his boy, and by the time he reached him,
the disease had made such rapid advances that Fred could no longer see his
father, except as a dark shadow against the sun-lighted window. In other
respects he was much better, and so anxious to be at home that the next
afternoon the journey of a few hours was taken, and in the early November
twilight he was helped up the familiar steps into the hall, where his mother
met him with convulsive kisses and sobs, called him her poor, dear little
Freddie, and then—went away to dress for a dinner-party, leaving the boy to
the tender mercies of the servants, who were thoroughly rejoiced to have
him at home once more.
This afternoon, directly after lunch, she had helped Fred to the sofa
where we found him, put a plate of Malaga grapes and a dish of candy on a
table beside him, and, telling him to ring for Mary in case he needed
anything, she had gone away "to take forty winks," she said. But the forty
winks lasted a long time, and for more than an hour Fred had lain there,
listening to the dashes of rain against the window, and counting the street
cars that jingled on their way past the house.
Suddenly the door-bell rang, and, at the sound, a dark red flush mounted
to the boy's cheek, and a frown gathered on his face.
"Somebody coming to look at me!" he muttered; and then lay very still,
listening to Mary's steps as she answered the summons.